Chapter 5: Eli (1)

– I don’t know how the Tower of Spirits or the Temple will react. It would be great if they were favorable, but……. they might try to use you.

You must, absolutely must, keep it hidden.

– Until when…….

– At least until you have the strength to not be used by them, and to resist the Empire.

‘He’s right.’

He was right, but.

“……I’m angry.”

Tap.

The thought naturally brought his steps to a halt.

Now that the trouble within his body was gone, a new worry had appeared outside.

Of course, it was nothing compared to the pain of his past life, but it seemed this world, too, was not a place where he could live an easy life.

Life, really…….

‘I’ll have to work my ass off just to not die.’

A sigh escaped him at the thought that his rotten luck was the same in both his past and present lives.

“Why is my life really like this…….”

But still, there was something good about his present life.

– Isn’t it strange, Father?

– What is?

– I mean, just because my head got better doesn’t mean I suddenly gained wisdom, but I’m suddenly speaking so well.

– Hm? What’s wrong with that? You were always smart.

You just had a speech impediment.

Were you concerned about the nonsense people who don’t know any better were spouting?

A smile appeared as he recalled his father, who had tilted his head at his words.

His adoptive father was that kind of person.

A person who always believed in and cherished him.

‘Because he’s that kind of person…….’

He had been able to take in a suspicious little kid of unknown origin, whom everyone had either abandoned or tried to kill, as his own son.

– Go show your changed self to your mother and Lian, too. They’ll be happy.

It made him feel anew…….

‘……Thank you, Father.’

He had turned and left without being able to say what he wanted to, holding back tears from a surge of emotion.

But that memory alone seemed to give him the confidence to face and overcome any hardship the world threw at him.

‘Right, let’s do this.’

No matter how bleak things were, the only pride of Han Munho’s life was that he had lived by striving without giving up.

– You orphan bastard…….

– Who knows when that guy will commit a crime.

– Look at that vicious thing. That glare…….

The more people looked at him with prejudiced eyes, the more he tried to live with his head held high and with dignity.

Perhaps it was a pointless defiance that stemmed from being born into an unfortunate life, or perhaps it was just a flimsy sense of pride.

Even in his present life, that resolve doesn’t change.

At least his current environment is much better than his past life.

‘I’m going to live like a human being, too. For myself. And…….’

For my family.

“I, can do it.”

He recites the mantra that Han Munho always repeated to himself.

‘If that’s the case, from now on…….’

Just as he was firming his resolve and about to move again.

An annoying voice struck his ears.

“Young Master Muno. You’ve really changed. Your hair color, too, and I don’t see those ugly chains……. But wasn’t that something even the Lord couldn’t remove?”

Before he knew it, a red-haired knight with a fierce expression had approached him.

His brow furrowed naturally at the sight of him.

“……Eli.”

“Eli? It seems you’ve forgotten the title ‘Sir’, Young Master Muno.”

At the insolent, picking-a-fight tone, a rotten smile appeared on Muno’s face as well.

“Does a guy who speaks informally to his lord’s son when no one is watching even have the qualifications of a knight?”

At those words, Eli’s smiling face, as he approached, stiffened slightly.

A guy whose expression clearly showed his surprise.

“That speech…… hoh. Don’t tell me you had an evolution that improves your intelligence? Puhuhu. Hmm, but it seems you’ve misunderstood something, Young Master Muno.”

Eli, who had come to his own conclusion, then showed a rotten smile and pushed his face forward.

“That I am a knight of the Trian County who serves Lady Elina, not a knight of the Drasen Barony.”

Hmph.

“Should I relay those words to Father?

That the knight who was kicked out for causing trouble seems to have no loyalty?”

The guy’s sneering expression completely hardened as his bluff was laughed at.

But soon, Eli let out a snort and muttered as if to be heard.

“……It seems you really did evolve in a way that improves your intelligence.

Well, I’ll be, that dumbass…….”

A guy blocking the path and openly picking a fight.

His status may be a knight, but…….

‘He’s a thug, this guy.’

It wasn’t that he didn’t know why this guy was so hostile towards him.

“There was also a knight who was beaten by that dumbass and rolled on the ground.

Just how much of an asshole is that guy?”

At those words, Eli’s face instantly turned as red as his hair.

“How dare you!”

The 2-star knight exuded a thick killing intent right in front of him, but Muno’s rotten smile only deepened.

“Dare?”

Eli had been dispatched to the Drasen territory about three years ago.

Amidst widespread rumors that he had caused trouble in the Trian County, Eli, who was in the worst of moods at the time, caused disturbances here and there.

And in the end, he even picked a fight with Muno and was miserably beaten.

His metal manipulation ability and chains were the absolute worst match-up for a young knight who had only ever engaged in standard duels.

Seeing that he reached the 2nd star after being spurred by that incident, he should have even considered Muno a benefactor.

But it seemed this guy hadn’t forgotten the humiliation of that time.

Even though Muno, who had foolishly followed his father’s instructions not to cause any more trouble after that incident, had avoided most situations first, he had endlessly picked fights with him.

Just like right now.

“A low-born adopted bastard who I don’t even know where he rolled in from dares to pick a fight with a pure-blooded nobleman? Do you really want to die?”

A snort escaped.

Whispering in his ear as if afraid someone might hear.

“Hey.”

Muno immediately grabbed the guy’s neck and stared into his eyes.

It must have been an unexpected reaction, as he could see the guy’s flustered expression.

Muno smiled coldly at that face.

“Did you think I would put up with your bullshit forever?”

“What?”

“I’ll let it slide just this once. Watch your mouth. There won’t be a next time.”

“Eek……!”

Even as Eli’s face turned redder as he gritted his teeth at those words, he didn’t feel a shred of tension.

Because there was no way this guy would actually lay a hand on him unless he was crazy.

Of course, even if he did attack.

‘There’s no way I’d lose to him now.’

However.

‘Ah……?’

Looking at the guy, a question came to mind.

The old Muno had just mindlessly followed his father’s instructions and avoided fights, and he hadn’t even been curious about what Eli was thinking.

But the current him was different.

Because there was a clearly strange part.

“Does Mother know you’re still doing this? I doubt it.”

At those words, Eli’s expression, which had seemed about to explode, hardened.

“Should I tell Mother? What you’ve been doing in her name?”

“You bastard……!”

“I told you to watch your mouth, Eli.”

A coldly whispered voice cut off the shout that was about to erupt from the guy.

Seeing the guy flinch, Muno smiled coldly.

“No matter how much resentment you have, no matter who your original lord is, a knight who knows how to think properly wouldn’t dare pick a fight with the lord’s son…….”

Moreover, if he wasn’t a knight purely from the Drasen territory, he should be trying even harder to avoid trouble in order to establish himself in the territory.

“I have a feeling you’re doing this because you have a background that can smooth things over even if Father finds out about it.”

As he continued to speak, the guy’s reddened face turned white.

“Then it’s the Trian County, after all? Who from the County told you to get rid of me?”

The guy’s inability to say anything was a sufficient answer.

“Why?

I’m an adopted son anyway. It’s already decided that Lian, who is the direct heir of the Drasen and also has the Trian County’s bloodline, will become the next lord.

The tongue-tied me had no interest in the succession. So why touch me?”

His trembling eyes and the beads of sweat forming on his forehead seemed to answer for him this time as well.

“Ha……. You don’t know. You don’t know, you bastard.

You’ve just been running your mouth. So annoying. Are you really a f*cking idiot?”

“You bastard……!”

“I don’t know what you’re up to, but……. let’s say you manage to get rid of me. Do you think you’ll be safe?”

“I am merely protecting my honor…….”

“Honor, my ass. A real dumbass has been digging his own grave. Not even worth dealing with. Get lost.”

Tapping his cheek and turning away coolly, he could feel the guy’s body trembling behind him.

At the same time, a surge of killing intent.

But at that moment, a murderous smile spread across the turned Muno’s face as well.

‘Right, come at me.’

The bracers on his limbs began to stir slightly, unnoticed by anyone.

Gadeudeuk.

“We’ll see, Young Master Muno.”

In the end, the fishing failed.

‘Tsk.’

When he glanced back, he could only see the back of Eli, who was walking away at a fast pace.

“Hmm…….”

He thought that if he smashed the bait, the fisherman might at least stick his hand in.

It seemed he would have to wait for the next time.

* * *

Knock, knock.

“Mother, it’s Muno.”

– Come in.

As soon as he heard the gentle voice, he opened the door with a creak.

What he saw in the spacious room was a noblewoman with long, blue hair that seemed to ripple like blue waves, and a boy with a bright smile who was already running towards the door.

“Brothe……er?”

The boy, Lian, who had been running towards him, flinched for a moment, and his eyes narrowed in an instant.

“What, you bastard?!”

Chaeng.

The momentum with which he instantly drew a small sword from his waist and aimed it was quite murderous.

He didn’t look at all like the boy who had been smiling so brightly just a moment ago.

If the Lian who had been running towards him was like a pure child, now he was a small but complete warrior.

In the society of his past life, it was a drastic change in attitude that would have been suspected of being psychopathic or having a split personality, but as a noble child here, it was a very well-educated appearance.

Muno let out a snort.

“It’s me, Lian. Didn’t you hear I’ve changed a bit? Didn’t you come when I was unconscious?”

“Uh, huh? I did go. Ah……?”

Lian Drasen.

The rightful heir of this Drasen territory and Muno’s younger brother, he took a slight step back.

“Really, brother?”

He was confused, unable to either sheathe his sword awkwardly or swing it.

It was understandable.

Even though he had seen him lying down once, he had suddenly grown taller and his hair and eye colors had all changed, so he must still feel awkward and unfamiliar.

So.

Chareuk.

“Oh!?”

Muno, who had lightly drawn out a chain to catch his younger brother’s sword and put it back in its scabbard at his waist.

“Right. I don’t stutter anymore, do I?”

After lightly patting his flustered younger brother’s head, he bowed politely to the middle-aged woman behind him.

“I’m sorry for worrying you, Mother.”

At that, the noblewoman, who looked to be around thirty and had been looking at him with wavering eyes, let out a hollow laugh.

“Really, is it really Muno?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Muno’s gaze as he looked at her was only warm.

Elina Trian.

The third daughter of Count Enoch Trian, married off to the knight he trusted most, and the lady of this territory.

It was an arranged marriage between a man and a woman more than ten years apart in age, but the relationship between Elina and Ryan was nothing but good.

And.

– It’s alright, dear. I wanted Lian to have a sibling, too. It’s a bit surprising that he got an older brother instead of a younger one, though.

Hoho. Muno, call me Mom.

– Thank you, Muno.

Thanks to my well-behaved eldest son, I’m looking forward to Lian’s growth as well.

– You have to take good care of your younger brother, okay? Got it?

To Muno, she was another person who had taught him the warmth of family.

“You don’t even stutter, I’m so glad. I’m truly glad.”

She had approached him before he knew it and was prodding Muno and the bracers.

“Those bracers. Ha, they’re much better to look at than shackles and chains.

That’s good. That’s really good, my son.”

Then, the ‘mother’ who smiled brightly and hugged him tightly.

A warmth that compensated for all the warmth of his biological mother, whom he had no memory of in his past life and had sadly lost in infancy in his present life, was here.

“……Th-thank you. Mother.”

His nose tingled anew.

“Are you not calling me Mom anymore because you’re an adult now? I’m a little hurt.”

“Because I’m an adult now.”

His current age was only sixteen (probably).

He was still at an age where he would grow taller and bigger, but by the standards of this continent of Reian, sixteen was the age of adulthood.

And to Muno, who had been freed from his headaches and had fully regained his clear mind, that fact was rather welcome.

However.

“Oh, then now that you’ve gotten rid of those bothersome shackles.

Our son can make his debut in high society, can’t he?”

He had not expected this kind of development.

“Pardon?”

“We have to have a coming-of-age party anyway.

And you know your father is a man who holds a grudge for not being able to marry early. Well, he did say it was for the better after meeting me, though.”

“……Pardon?”

“He wanted to marry off his sons quickly, and now the obstacle is gone. That’s great.”

“Uh……?”

“No, I should tell him to prepare quickly while we’re at it.”

“Um, Mother……?”

She was a mother who still lavished him with excessive affection.

But right now, he was just a little bewildered.

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